Couplets: Travels in Speculative Pragmatism

Brian Massumi's Couplets is a collection of twenty-four essays that explore key concepts from his work, presented in pairs to encourage readers to make connections and link different phases of his work. It serves as a primer for new readers and a supplemental resource for those already engaged with his thought.

Format: Hardback
Length: 504 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2021
Publisher: Duke University Press

Brian Massumi's Couplets is a collection of twenty-four essays that span his thirty-year career. It serves as a companion to Parables for the Virtual, delving into the core concepts of Parables from various perspectives and contextualizing them to enhance their significance. Rather than arranging the essays chronologically or by topic, Massumi pairs them in couplets, encouraging readers to explore connections across conventional subject matter boundaries, encounter disjunctions, and connect different phases in his work's evolution.

In his comprehensive analyses, Massumi examines a range of topics, including art, affect, architecture, media theory, political theory, and the philosophy of experience. Through these diverse subjects, he charts a field where a family of conceptual problems unfolds, impacting our abilities to act and perceive the world. Couplets serves as an essential guide to Massumi's oeuvre, providing a primer for new readers and a valuable resource for those already engaged with his thought.

By presenting the essays in couplets, Massumi encourages readers to engage in a dynamic and interconnected reading experience. The juxtapositions of ideas and perspectives stimulate thought and provoke new ways of understanding the world. Through his meticulous scholarship and innovative approach, Massumi offers a profound exploration of the complexities of contemporary culture and society.

In conclusion, Brian Massumi's Couplets is a remarkable achievement that showcases the breadth and depth of his intellectual inquiry. Through his thoughtful pairings and insightful analyses, Massumi invites readers to explore the boundaries between disciplines, challenge conventional thinking, and perceive the world in fresh and transformative ways. This collection is a testament to Massumi's enduring influence and a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary philosophy, cultural studies, and the politics of perception.

Weight: 816g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478013730